How $600 Led to a Life-Changing Nonprofit

Being a police officer is much more than a job for Lane Harper: It’s a calling and a way of life. Harper grew up in a hardworking family; his father began as an attorney before becoming a judge and now a Supreme Court judge in Connecticut, and his mother taught in early childhood education during the day and worked at the hospital as a surgeon at night. “I wanted to find out something I could do pertaining to helping people, giving back, and treating people the way they need to be treated,” he recalls. The police officers in his neighborhood would help his mom by bringing the milk jugs to the front door while his dad worked long hours, and these acts of reciprocity eventually led him to become a police officer.

BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER

Before joining the Birmingham Police Department in 2008, Harper held multiple jobs, each giving him insight into the people he now serves. He worked at Family Court Juvenile Detention, two psychiatric centers, and Birmingham City Jail, to name a few. He greatly values those experiences because they taught him many critical skills he uses as a police officer, such as how to deescalate situations. “Everyone is human and they are all going through things,” he reminds us. “We have to continue to cater to the need, not the background or the environment.” 

He also began teaching martial arts to Birmingham and the surrounding municipalities in 2008. Lane boasts a second degree black belt in taekwondo and a first degree black belt Oyama karate, as well as experience being the VP of Young’s Boxing. Needless to say, he’s highly qualified and has trained over 700 officers in Birmingham, along with officers across Texas, Florida, Arizona, Yale, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

THE POWER OF LIFE FOUNDATION

His heart behind policing is serving people. “My greatest gift is to know I’ve helped someone,” he shares. While policing one day in early 2019, he found $600 in a parking lot. The next day, he encountered a woman in a domestic situation, and with approval from his superior, used a portion of the money to pay for her hotel room. Covid-19 soon broke out, and so he bought face masks from a church in Avondale to give to the homeless and transients. These were the origins of the Power of Life Foundation. Harper rapidly expanded his mask donations to include parts of Georgia, Michigan, and Florida. “Everyone just needs a helping hand. It doesn’t matter how much money you make [and] it doesn’t matter where you live,” he points out.

In 2020, when part of Louisiana lost everything because of a natural disaster, the Power of Life Foundation donated over 100,000 face masks. The foundation’s primary focuses now include giving away 1,000 turkeys, an annual free winter coat drive for 500–800 people of all ages and stages, and a backpack giveaway. They’re upping their backpack and supplies donations this year from 1,000 to 3,500 in the Black Belt on July 19th in Selma, the poorest part of Alabama, and then another 2,000 on July 26th in Fultondale, Alabama. Another initiative is called Boots on the Ground, which provides officers and firefighters with Under Armour boots and shoes.

MAKING A LASTING DIFFERENCE

Harper’s most meaningful moments have been helping storm victims and seeing people going and growing. He’s lived in Birmingham since 1995, so he’s seen almost three generations of growth. “The children I used to take care of [as] juvenile delinquents now have kids,” he states. Being able to support people when they couldn’t even see a way out is success in and of itself. 

Officer Lane Harper is the kind of guy you want protecting your city. “Before we were police officers, we were referred to as peace officers because we brought peace. Not all police officers are warriors; we are guardians of our communities,” he explains. Harper has taken people to jail and asked them if he can go back and service their family by feeding them after seeing their dire circumstances. He even gives out his phone number so people can reach out if they need help. “It’s touching because it’s personal,” he tells me. “Police are just regular people with families with a uniform. We want to give you everything Chick-Fil-A gives you, which is excellent community service.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

No matter what position they are in life, Harper seeks to meet people where they are. “No one out here is better than anyone else. We’re all one paycheck away from being broke. Treat people accordingly,” he asks of Birmingham residents. His one piece of advice? “Give back, always be willing to listen and learn, and if you’re the smartest one in the circle, you’re in the wrong circle.”

When asked how people can get involved with the Power of Life Foundation (POLF), Harper emphasizes that people need to help because they are doing it for the cause, not the spotlight. Supporting POLF enables them to serve the community on a bigger scale. He also encourages students to engage by using their passion, creativity, and skillsets. “Everybody has so much but nobody’s sharing. Give someone the same support someone once gave you. Remember the journey & bring people up to your level—reach back. Reach one, teach one.”

To learn more about how to get involved or to donate, visit poweroflifefoundation.org.